(19)
(11) EP 1 921 845 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
08.10.2008 Bulletin 2008/41

(43) Date of publication A2:
14.05.2008 Bulletin 2008/20

(21) Application number: 08151321.0

(22) Date of filing: 17.02.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H04N 5/232(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR LV MK RS

(30) Priority: 20.02.2004 JP 2004044758

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
05003414.9 / 1580984

(71) Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Ohta-ku, Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Okawara, Hiroto
    Tokyo Tokyo 146-8501 (JP)

(74) Representative: TBK-Patent 
Bavariaring 4-6
80336 München
80336 München (DE)

   


(54) Lens controlling apparatus and image-taking apparatus


(57) A lens controlling apparatus (112 to 114, 126) is disclosed which is capable of preventing an execution of irrelevant AF control in a combination of TV-AF method and an AF method other than the TV-AF method. The lens controlling apparatus (112 to 114, 126) comprises: a first signal generating section (112, 113) for generating a first signal showing a contrast state of an object image on the basis of a frequency component of a signal by using an image-pickup element (106) for photoelectrically converting the object image; a second signal generating section (126) for generating a second signal by a focus detecting method for detecting information corresponding to an object distance; and a controller (114) for selectively performing a first focus control operation based on the first signal and a second focus control operation based on the second signal, and for selecting the second control operation in a case where the change amount of the first signal is larger than a first predetermined amount and the change amount of the second signal is smaller than a second predetermined amount.







Search report